A story about family, home, and great expectations, Orange County is on par with the majority of teen movies: full of sound and fury (and sex and drugs) and signifying... well, almost nothing. Like the best examples of this late-high school genre, there's a hint of a real message hidden beneath all the box office fluff.
Shaken by the loss of a friend, surf punk Shaun Brumder (Colin Hanks) rededicates his life to writing. When his college counselor submits the wrong transcript to Stanford, Shaun and girlfriend Ashley (Schulyer Fisk) hit the road with Shaun's older brother Lance (Jack Black) to meet with the Dean of Admissions.
Perhaps it shouldn't be so surprising that director Jake Kasdan and writer Mike White have conspired to make such a good film--both worked on the short-lived television series "Freaks and Geeks," a sort of 1980s "Wonder Years" which was too understanding, smart and observant to last more than one season. It proved, however, to be the spawning ground of much new talent, including Scooby-Doo's Linda Cardellini and Spider-Man's James Franco. Having cut their teeth on TV, Kasdan and White move to the big screen to create a story that definitely isn't Shakespeare, but isn't all that bad, either.
Part of Orange County's draw is its generational cast: Colin Hanks is Tom's son, looking every bit like an apple that fell not far from the tree (particularly when flailing about in the same exaggerated exasperation his father employs); Schulyer Fisk is Sissy Spacek's daughter, most obvious in a smile or a slight movement that makes her look just like mom; Jake Kasden's father Lawrence directed Body Heat and The Big Chill; even Jerry Stiller's son Ben makes an appearance. Tossed in the mix with all these "juniors" are some of comedy's elder statesmen; Lilly Tomlin as the burnt-out guidance counselor is just one of the many cameos that pop up. Often with no more than a few lines, these veterans are free to deliver more ham than a deli on Easter. It's the young actors who keep the film grounded, keep it from spiraling off into the lunacy of latter National Lampoon's films.
To back up this movie, Paramount has given us a nice selection of extras. A feature-length commentary with director Jake Kasdan and writer Mike White gives insight into the process of casting, filming, and even editing Orange County; though it may sound dry, Kasdan and White genuinely seem to be enjoying themselves and manage to bring a bit of levity to the proceedings. There are four deleted scenes, including one of Tomlin's counselor going on a fear-fueled experimental rampage through the student population. The theatrical trailer is included, as are 15 short promos that ran on MTV in the month before the film's release (many including writer Mike White as the merrily inept English teacher).
Orange County is presented in widescreen format, with Dolby Digital sound. There were no problems with the sound, but that may be simply because there isn't really anything on the soundtrack to "push" the system; it's not that hard to balance a group of teenagers talking. The colors and tones were adequate, with no glaring errors. One particular scene, set on a westward-facing beach at sunset, provides us with subtle oranges and blacks, fading gently into one another.
While the disc itself isn't the most impressive thing to be released this year, it's a fine workhorse presentation. Fortunately, that matches the film quite well--not spectacular, but not a terrible way to spend and hour and a half.
Recommended:
Yes
Viewing Format: DVD Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older
Rising young stars Colin Hanks and Schuyler Fisk head up an outstanding cast including Jack Black (Shallow Hal), Catherine O Hara (Home Alone), John L...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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